Dr Ana Sofia Hofmeyr from Kansai University is joining us in Oita for a presentation and workshop on the theme of encouraging cultural education in the language classroom. This promises to be a fascinating event, so please come and join us! The event details and a full abstract are given below. We look forward to seeing you on January 28th!
ABSTRACT
The importance of developing an intercultural mindset in Japanese students is increasingly apparent. Traditionally, intercultural attitudes and knowledge have been fostered through study abroad programmes; yet, these opportunities remain out of reach to most students worldwide, forcing educational institutions to consider alternative ways in which to foster intercultural awareness among students on domestic campuses. The intimate relationship between language and culture suggests that foreign language classrooms may be ideal settings in which to foster an intercultural mindset, but a strict focus on linguistic competence over cultural understanding has generated a gap between policy and practice. This practical workshop will encourage teachers to consider what is meant by an intercultural mindset, ways in which to foster intercultural discussions in foreign language classrooms, particularly within time and textbook constraints, and the role of the teacher as an intercultural ambassador in the classroom.
